fredag 8. mai 2020

US senators propose renaming street outside Chinese embassy after Wuhan whistleblower

US lawmakers have proposed renaming the street in front of the Chinese embassy in Washington after the late Wuhan doctor punished for warning about the spread of coronavirus, a step sure to outrage Beijing. The measure would rechristen the section of the Washington street in front of the embassy “Li Wenliang Plaza”, instead of the innocuous current name of International Place.

Li was one of a group of doctors who shared posts on social media in December warning that a virus was spreading in Wuhan. He was reprimanded by police and made to sign a statement promising not to commit any more “law-breaking actions. He died from the illness in February, triggering a nationwide outpouring of grief and a rare apology by police for his treatment. “We’ll ensure the name Li Wenliang is never forgotten – by placing it permanently outside the embassy of the nation responsible for the deaths Dr Li tried to prevent,” said Tom Cotton, a Republican senator known for his hawkish views on China.

The measure, also backed by senator Marco Rubio, was introduced simultaneously in both chambers of Congress.